Author Topic: How often do you check Funds in FIRE  (Read 5086 times)

BTDretire

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How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« on: September 26, 2016, 11:12:34 AM »
I'm FI nearing RE and starting to realize the stache still has to last another 30 years.
I check my NW four to six times a year and have the running tab next to my computer.
I'm still working (self employed) in a situation where I watch the financial channels
20+ hours a week. I don't make use, as in buy and sell on info I see on TV or make many changes to my stache at all, I just watching enjoy the banter.
  The realization is that I will still need to think about what the market is doing and what is my asset allocation during those 30 years.
  How much attention do you pay to your investments in retirement.

60% Total Stock Market Index
21% Individual Stocks Mostly REITs
11% Real Estate (Land Contract 8% rate)
7% Cash


Frankies Girl

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2016, 12:01:45 PM »
I am FIREd (a bit over 1.5 years now) and check Mint every day and my investments probably every day or two - but at least weekly. I prefer to see what is happening and am able to monitor our spending, make on the fly adjustments and keep an eye out for any fraudulent charges easily.

As far as the investment monitoring frequency: I like to think of it as desensitizing myself to the ups and downs, and so far, that has worked well. I no longer get upset or panic when I'm down - even tens of thousands. Hell, I've lost 50K in a month, and it's just a "oh well, I'll get it back eventually" type of though process now. I don't agonize or over-celebrate the losses or the gains any more - it's all just information to be logged. I like the routine and actual knowing/seeing the day to day, if that makes any sense. 

BTDretire

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2016, 12:58:53 PM »
As far as the investment monitoring frequency: I like to think of it as desensitizing myself to the ups and downs, and so far, that has worked well. I no longer get upset or panic when I'm down - even tens of thousands. Hell, I've lost 50K in a month, and it's just a "oh well, I'll get it back eventually" type of though process now.
I weather the downs days OK, had a one day this month where I lost 30K in the stock market, but it all came back. The last 6 years in the market have been Marvelous!
1- for watch market often.

Gunny

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2016, 01:41:01 PM »
I keep a close eye on the market.  Several times a week.  I don't make investment decisions based on the daily market, but I try to learn why the market is doing what it's doing in order to become a more informed future investor.  I'm currently taking no distributions from retirment accounts so I don't get worried when I see drops. But I do try to nail down better AA going forward based on market trends.  Having said that, I'm at the same AA I've been at for years at around 80% indexed equites, 10 cash and 10 indexed bonds and will remain this way for the foreseeable future.   My pension and cash account more than covers my expenses.

Spork

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2016, 02:59:21 PM »
I check them all the damn time.  But I am a little OCD.  I don't think it is really necessary. 

Financial.Velociraptor

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2016, 08:52:30 PM »
Every day or more. Completely unecsessary.

Mmm_Donuts

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #6 on: September 27, 2016, 07:33:14 AM »
Probably 2-3 times a day. And we do 'official' reviews of our financial assets and AA on the first day of every month, with excel spreadsheets and charts.

Checking daily is totally unnecessary! But I find it helpful to get used to the ups and downs, like FG said, and interesting because I learn about what's happening in the market. Plus it's sort of comforting to check and see that it's all still there.

Exflyboy

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2016, 12:03:26 AM »
I find I check it every day when its going up or making new highs.. On the way down I keep the PC turned off.. except to check out the MMM forum of course..:)

John Doe

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2016, 07:24:19 AM »
I check it everyday but the purpose is to keep an eye on my investments that might be getting 'fully valued' that could be shifted to other investments that I believe there is room either for growth or pay a higher distribution than the one I may sell.  I don't end up asset shifting very often, maybe 2-3x per year.

mandy_2002

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2016, 09:07:21 AM »
I'm out of the country with a less than reliable internet connection.  Before FIRE, it was daily.  When I was in Peace Corps training, I didn't look for months.  Now that I'm out of training, I take a peek every week or two, and I track the change in my safe withdrawal amount (assuming 4% SWR) monthly for when I finally need to start taking money out.   

soccerluvof4

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2016, 10:18:30 AM »
I check it pretty much everyday BUT i dont panic if it drops or do jumping jacks if its up. Its more just my routine like watching the morning news and Squawkbox with a cup of coffee. Its not OCD, its just simply having in interest in the goings on.

BTDretire

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #11 on: September 28, 2016, 10:24:49 AM »
From the OP,
It certainly seems as though a stock price page and the financial TV channels, will continue to be an important part of my life till death do us part!
 That's OK, I like Stuart Varney, Neil Cavuto and Cramer! 
Melissa Lee does a good job also.  :-)

Exflyboy

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #12 on: September 29, 2016, 05:24:36 PM »
I won't be checking my balances today thats for sure..:)

tonydomon

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #13 on: September 29, 2016, 06:54:19 PM »
I checked once per year on the anniversary of my RE. As long as my portfolio is worth more than last year, I am happy. I do read the Wall Street Journal everyday and follow the stock market.

Gronnie

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #14 on: September 29, 2016, 06:57:13 PM »
I won't be checking my balances today thats for sure..:)

Today wasn't even that bad of a day, less than 1% down.

oldtoyota

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #15 on: September 29, 2016, 07:04:28 PM »
I check a few times a month and thought *that* was a lot. =-)

I can't imagine checking daily.


Gronnie

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #16 on: September 29, 2016, 07:47:21 PM »
I update my spreadsheets every day during downtime at work.

o2bfree

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #17 on: September 30, 2016, 05:36:37 PM »
I've reached my FI goal, but am not quite ready to retire. Check my 'stache once a month, and will probably keep that schedule after retirement.

Enigma

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #18 on: October 03, 2016, 10:49:59 AM »
I check mine daily as well...

I have one large excel workbook that is used to monitor everything pertaining to cashflow. One tab specifically for my bank credits/debts related to residual rental income, one overview tab that I plug in my balances for my checking accounts (business, personal, and joint), one tab dedicated to my Financial Statement (immediate current net worth), one tab dedicated to my monthly Net worth and yearly net worth...  Also I have charts and graphs everywhere.  Seems user friendly to me but I play around with it daily.

Exflyboy

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #19 on: October 03, 2016, 09:18:27 PM »
Hmm.. My UK pension is worth less by the day.. Glad I don't intend to withdraw it for 5 years.. and probably not until I'm 65 so as not to jeapodise my ACA subsidies.. Assuming we still have them in 10 years time...:)

Enigma

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #20 on: October 04, 2016, 05:19:17 AM »
Yeah Brexit makes that one a hard one to gauge.  Too much uncertainty at the moment.

TheAnonOne

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Re: How often do you check Funds in FIRE
« Reply #21 on: October 06, 2016, 01:35:49 PM »
My phone (S7 edge) just has VTSAX on the "side swipe" page. So it's there but, I don't sit there and stare at it.

I find the gain or loss of money rather boring and semi-uninteresting unless its 2+% in a single day and even then, mostly because something happened in the world. (The market rarely moves 2+% in a day for literally no reason)